Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-02-06
SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 6, 1887.
The End Of Il.

IL is evident from MIR. CABLIsLEs
letter in regard to the proper measures
10 be taken for the reduction OF the
surplus in the Treasury, that he, like
Mr.. MORRISON, is strenuous and
stesdfast advocate of the policy OF per-
petuating the tax upon tobacco as well
as those upon fruit-brandies and whis-
key.
When Mr.. MpRRsoN and Mr. CAR
Isle and their followers in Congress
say that they arc willing to take the tax
of tobacco only upon condition that
some change shall be made in the tariff
mt the same time, they say in effect that
II is wrong to take the tax off tobacco.
Otherwise, il is evident that they would
be glad to get nd of the tobacco tax
whether they could get rid of the tariff
on pig-iron or not A half-loaf is bet
than no bread and real craftsmanship
consists not in doing what would
De best and wisest if it could
be done, but in doing as well
as II is possible for yOu to do
under the circumstances which sur
round you. If. therefore, Mr.. CAR
Isle and Mr.. MORRISON, being states
men, regarded il as matter of vital
importance to the country or to their
constituents to secure the abolition of
the tobacco tax, and could secure this
object by letting the customs-duties
alone for the time being, they would of
course, if they were really opposed TO
the tobacco tax, agree to abolish at
once this tax and defer to another time
the attempt to modify the tariff.
We do not wish to be understood rs
saying that the tariff ought not be re-
yised. On the contrary, We hold, as
we have said repeatedly in years past,
that there could not well be framed a
worse tariff than the one now in ex-
istence. Especially ought the admin
istrative tariff bill, so called, to be
passed by Congress. And We are
inclined to think that Mr.. RANDALL is
too uncompromising in his conduct as
legislator
1t would seem, therefore, that there
is little or no reason to hope for the
abolition of the tobacco tax by the pres
ent Congress; and if not abolished by
the present Congress, it may last long
time; for the Republicans, who are
supposed to be more generally opposed
than the Democrats to its abolition, will
be much stronger in the next House of
Representatives than in the present one.
We say supposed to be " because
during the current session of Congress
the Republicans have manifested a
much more liberal spirit than they
nsed TO do in regard to this particular
grievance of the people of Virginia.
Tomorrow it viii be in order to move
TO suspend the rules of the House of
Representative and pass bill abolish
ing the tobacco tax; and it is rumored
that such a motion is TO be made. We
cannot say that we consider the mea-
sure strong enough to command a two
thirds vote in that body; but still whilst
there's life there is hope.
The failure to abolish the tax on to-
bacco and fruit-brandies will make it 50
much the more difficult for the Demo
Gratis of Virginia TO electnext fall Demo
cratic Legislature and send Democrat
to Washington to succeed General MA
HONE in the United States Senate.
This, by the way, is another reason for
fearing that the partisan United States
Senate will refuse to abolish the tobacco
tax. That body is likely to be almost
equally divided between the two great
parties after the 4th Of March next,
and the Republican members, as we all
know too well, are ready to resort to
almost any expedient in order to
strengthen themselves therein.